Rabbi L. Scheinbaum

“And Hashem said, ‘Let us make man.'” (1:26)

Shlomo Ha’Melech teaches us in Koheles 12:13, “When all is said and done, fear Hashem,… for that is the sum of man.” This is a remarkable statement! One who does not fear Heaven is an animal! Is the fear of G-d the true determining factor in one’s humanness? Perhaps it is a component in his physical makeup, but is it not bold to say that this is the primary, the sole factor, in his characterization as a human being? Horav Elchanan Wasserman, zl, claims that, indeed, one’s humanness is in direct proportion to his fear of G-d. The more…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Bereishis, 5757

“And Hashem said, ‘Let the earth cover itself with vegetation, plants that reproduce through seeds, fruit trees that are fruit…'” (1:11)

Rashi comments that Hashem had planned that the tree would have the same taste as the fruit. The earth disobeyed, generating trees that bore fruit, but which were not themselves fruit. Consequently, Hashem punished the earth together with man. The commentators explain that prior to the time that natural law was definitely established, Hashem had granted the earth an element of “creative” freedom. In addition, as the Rambam states in Hilchos Yesodei Ha’Torah, the various parts of creation have a living soul and consciousness of their own existence. Horav Eli Munk, zl, cites the Chizkuni, who offers the earth’s…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Behar

You shall not subjugate him through hard labor – you shall fear your G-d. (25:43)

The Torah admonishes us not to take undue advantage of the eved Ivri, Hebrew slave. He is reprehensible to demand that he perform difficult tasks that have no purpose other than destroying his self-respect. Rashi cites two such instances that do nothing more than destroy the slave’s body and spirit: ordering him to boil water when there is no need for it; ordering him to keep digging around a tree for a long period of time for no apparent purpose. The Rambam says that it is prohibited to require the slave to work just to keep him busy. While the…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Behar

Do not take from him interest and increase; and you shall fear your G-d. (25:36)

The Navi Yecheskel says (18:13) “(If he) Gives (loans) with usury and takes interest should he live? He shall not live!” Regarding this pasuk the Midrash comments, “The Almighty says, “He who has lived/sustained himself with usury in this world, will not live in the World to Come.” Simply, the individual who does not have the sensitivity and human decency to provide his fellow man with a loan without squeezing interest from him will not merit the Olam Habah reserved for every Jew. There is a famous incident that occurred with Rav Akiva Eiger, zl, which underscores this statement. In…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Behar

And if your brother becomes poor, and his means fail with you, then you shall uphold him. (25:35)

One would think that he who helps sustain the poor is to be commended. In fact he is. The poor man who is the object of his beneficence should also be commended for availing the benefactor an opportunity to give. Yet, Chazal say, “Greater is what the baal habayis does for the ani, than is what the ani does for the baal habayis.” What does this mean? Horav Eliyahu Meir Bloch, zl, explains that when we examine closely the middah of chesed of Avraham Avinu, the pillar of kindness, we note a concept of chesed that is not congruent…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Behar

If your brother becomes impoverished andhis means falter in your proximity, you shall strengthen him… so that he can live with you. (25:35)

The words “u,t” and “ung” are usually translated as “with you.” While most translators attribute these two distinct words the same meaning, there is a difference between the two. If we were to say that someone took along a certain object and placed it in his suitcase, we would say that he took it “u,t” – with him. The object, while it is with him, is not part of the individual; he just carries it along. If however, we wanted to say that an individual took something along in his mind, he remembered something, we would say “ung”. It becomes…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Behar

I will command My blessing for you in the sixth year and it will yield a crop sufficient for the three-year period. (25:21)

This pasuk implies that the blessing will be apparent during the sixth year. Sforno comments that the blessing of prosperity prior to the Shmittah year will be to such an extent that it will ease even the mind of the skeptic. The Yalkut Shemoni cites the pasuk in Tehillim 103:20 which states, “Bless Hashem, O His Angels, the strong warriors who do His bidding, to obey the Voice of His Word.” Rabbi Yitzchak Nafcha says that the words “angels and strong warriors” refer to those who observe Shmittah. The individual sees his fields and vineyards lie fallow, and he accepts…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5757

Did conceive this entire people… you say to me, carry them in your bosom as a nurse carries a suckling. (11:12)

Moshe is expressing the idea that leading a nation can become very difficult at times. Hashem imposed upon Moshe and Aharon the duty to care for the Jewish people with patience and forbearance, even if they should become abusive. The Jewish leader is compared to a nursemaid who patiently and devotedly cares for him charge. The word used to describe a nursemaid is written in the male gender – “inut” rather than “,bnut” in the female gender. Why is this? Horav Mordechai Ilan, zl, derives a profound lesson here. An “omein,” which is the male gender for a nurse, because…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5757

The banner of the Bnei Dan, the rear-guard of all the camps, embanked according to its legions. (10:25)

Rashi explains why Shevet Dan traveled at the rear of the procession. They were the most populous of the tribes. They traveled at the rear in order to retrieve and return any item lost by its owner – who had traveled in front of them. Tosfos explain that any member of the other tribes who was detained for some reason would also travel along with them. Bnei Dan were people of integrity, helping out those who straggled behind – both physically and spiritually. Michtav M’eliyahu emphasizes that they collected the “lost souls” along the road, restoring them to Judaism. Why…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5757

Make for yourself two silver trumpets…and they shall be yours for the summoning of the assembly and to cause the camps to journey…when you go to wage war in your Land, against an enemy who oppressed you, you shall sound short blasts of the trumpets…on a day of your gladness, and on your festivals…you shall sound the trumpets. (10:2,9,10)

Hashem commanded Moshe to make two silver trumpets, which would be for Moshe’s exclusive use. They were used either to summon the entire nation or just the leaders to come to Moshe — or to signal that they were about to move on. The trumpets were also sounded to arouse Klal Yisrael in the event that a catastrophe struck Eretz Yisrael. The blasts of the trumpets, comments the Rambam, were a call to repentance. It was a clarion call to the people, telling them that the impending disaster was not happenstance, but rather a message from Hashem that they had…

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“And Hashem said, ‘Let us make man.'” (1:26)

“And Hashem said, ‘Let the earth cover itself with vegetation, plants that reproduce through seeds, fruit trees that are fruit…'” (1:11)

You shall not subjugate him through hard labor – you shall fear your G-d. (25:43)

Do not take from him interest and increase; and you shall fear your G-d. (25:36)

And if your brother becomes poor, and his means fail with you, then you shall uphold him. (25:35)

If your brother becomes impoverished andhis means falter in your proximity, you shall strengthen him… so that he can live with you. (25:35)

I will command My blessing for you in the sixth year and it will yield a crop sufficient for the three-year period. (25:21)

Did conceive this entire people… you say to me, carry them in your bosom as a nurse carries a suckling. (11:12)

The banner of the Bnei Dan, the rear-guard of all the camps, embanked according to its legions. (10:25)

YEARS

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